Variable grip-tip pencil with screw feed



.Dec. 13, 1949 M; E-S AVOIE VARIABLE GRIP-TIP PEflCiL WITH SCREW FEEDFiled Oct. 2, 1947 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Dec. 13, 1949 VARIABLE GRIP-T1111" PENCIL WITH SCREW EED MarkE. Savoie, Cleveland, Ohio Application October 2, 1947, Serial No.777,423

3 Claims. (Cl. 120-18) My invention relates in general to mechanicalPencils which grip the leads and in particular to a mechanical penciladapted to receive any one of many leads of numerous diameters and togrip the lead received under pressure.

Since the introduction of thin leads for use in mechanical pencils, itbecame necessary for users of mechanical pencils to carry two pencils intheir pockets if they desired to use a pencil with a thin, lead and apencil with a thick lead. In the past mechanical pencils have beenconstructed to use a lead of only one diameter. My invention correctsthe inefficiency of the common type of mechanical pencil which arelimited to the use of only one diameter lead. My new and useful grip-tipmechanical pencil will hold either a thin lead or a thick lead or anyone of many leads of numerous diameters. Therefore, an object of myinvention is the provision of a mechanical pencil adapted to receive andhold in writing position any one of many leads of numerous diameters andshapes without interchanging the pencil tip or lead chamber.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mechanical pencil with alead chamber of resilient material having axially extended fingersextending. outwardly beyond the pencil tip with griptip portions on theextended fingers for gripping any one of many leads. of numerousdiameters and shapes under pressure and in writing position.

A further object of my invention is to provide axially extended fingersextending outwardly beyond the. pencil tip and having cam portionsdisposed externally of the pencil tip and arranged to cooperate with thepencil tip upon axial move mentof the extended fingers. in an inwarddirection into the pencil tip for radially contracting the grip-tipportions of the extended fingers to grip a lead. inserted between theextended fingers under DIIeSsure and in writing position.

A still further object of my invention is to-provide a clamping devicewhich clamps a lead externally of the pencil tip, under pressureexerted,

by a, spring disposed within the pencil barrel and urging the clampingdevice to clamp a lead of any diameter.

A further object of my invention is a provision.

of spring means for urging a. clamping device in a mechanical pencilinto clamping position on a, lead off any diameter either 3.6 or 46thousandths ofan inch in diameter and'oi either round, square ortriangular cross-section.

A still further object ofmy invention is to provide spring means whichurges the clamping device in the mechanical pencil to clamp on the leadof any diameter and to provide a guage for limit ing the axial movementof the axially extended fingers.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lead feed screw mechanismwhich propels lead out of the lead chamber and between the grip-tipportions of my grip-tip mechanical pencil and into writing position.

For a further object of my invention I have pro-' vided a. mechanicalpencil which is simple in construction, convenient in operation,durable, free from derangement of parts and which firmly grips a lead ofany diameter under pressure.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had byreferring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 of my drawings is a longitudinal sectional view, showing theassembled construction of my new grip-tip mechanical pencil;

Figure 2 is a, fragmentary cross-sectional view of my grip-tip portions.gripping a lead of larger diameter than shown in the Figure 1;

Figure 3 isv a cross-sectional view along the line 33 of Figurev 1;

Figure 4. is a cross-sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line 5-5' of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view along, the line 66 ofFigure l Figure '7 is. a prospective view of the eraser support pressmember;

. Figure 8. is. a. prospective view of the lead feeding screw sleeve;

Figure 9 is a View of the. spring member;

Figure 10 is a prospective view of the spring guide member;

Figure 11. is a. prospective View of the free washer which. ridesbetween the lead feeding screw sleeve and the. lead chamber topreventthe lead. feeding screw sleeve turning the lead chamber v therewithFigure 12: is a. prospective View of the locking slleeve which. locks.the. manually operable press means in. the pencil. barrel;

Figure- 13. is a. plan view of the threaded lead ejection screw; and,

Figure. 114' is a. prospective view of the lead. chamber with a portionthereof shown. in cross section to. better illustrate the internal.threaded portion which. engages the lead. propelling. screw.-

My' new}. useful' and novel grip-tip mechanical; pencil" is constructedin a pencil barrel I!) having a hollow pencil tip i fastened to one endthereof. The pencil barrel l5 may be constructed of any suitablematerial, such for example as metal or plastic. The hollow pencil tip ispreferably constructed of metal; however, other suitable materials asplastics may be used. To better describe the new features and operationsof my grip-tip mechanical pencil, I have designated the pencil barrel IDas having an eraser end I3 and a pencil tip end M. The pencil barrel isgenerally in the shape of a hollow cylindrical tube. The pencil tip IIhas a fastening portion I! which may be threaded into the pencil tip endM of the pencil barrel Ill, as is shown in the drawings, or which may befastened to the pencil tip and I4 by other suitable means. The penciltip I has a shoulder l8 disposed internally of the pencil tip end I4 ofthe pencil barrel ill. I have provided the small end of the pencil tipwith a pencil tip cam portion l9.

In my assembled grip-tip mechanical pencil, the lead chamber 25,illustrated in Figures 1 and 14, extends through the hollow pencil tipII. This lead chamber 25 is disposed coaxially with the pencil barrel I0and is reciprocally movable axially in an inward direction and in anoutward direction relative to the hollow pencil tip A spring member 26is disposed within the pencil tip end M of the pencil barrel l0 and isassembled with the lead chamber 25 to urge the lead chamber 25 in theinward direction. I have provided a manually operable press mechanism 21which is associated with the lead chamber 25 and the spring member 26and a guide member 45 to axially move the lead chamber 25 against theurging of the spring member 26 in the outward direction. The manuallyoperable press mechanism 21 includes an eraser support press member 50,a lead feeding screw sleeve 55, a lead feeding screw 40 and a washer 49.This manually operable press mechanism 21 is disposed in the eraser endH! of the pencil barrel l0 and extends therefrom. An eraser 28 may becarried by the manually operable press mechanism 21. An eraser cap 29 isfitted over the eraser 28 and is disposed to enclose that portion of themanually operable press mechanism 21 extending from the eraser end |3 ofthe pencil barrel H! to provide a neatly finished grip-tip mechanicalpencil. I do not limit the construction of my manually operable pressmechanism 2'! as assembled with the axially movable lead chamber 25 andthe spring member 26 to the specific construction illustrated in mydrawings and specifically described in my description. I have found itpreferable to construct these parts of metal; however, it is possiblethat they may be constructed of other materials.

The lead chamber 25 which is illustrated best in Figure 14 of mydrawings. has axially extended fingers 35 which may be extendedoutwardly beyond the pencil tip I l, as is illustrated in Figures 1 and2, when the grip-tip mechanical pencil is assembled. These axiallyextending fingers 35 terminate in grip-tip portions 36 which engage anyone of the many leads of numerous diameters which may be inserted in orreceived by the lead chamber 25. Each of the axially extended fingers 35has a cam portion 31 to cooperatively engage the pencil tip cam portion|9 When my grip-tip mechanical pencil is assembled the cam portion 31and a grip-tip portion 36 of the axially extended fingers 35 aredisposed externally of the hollow pencil tip The lead chamber 25 and theextended fingers 35 are constructed of a resilient material whereby theaxially extended fingers 35 tend to radially spread the grip-tipportions 36 for receiving any one of the many leads of numerousdiameters. When the lead chamber 25 is axially moved in the outwarddirection to move the axially extended fingers 35 in the outwarddirection beyond the pencil tip II, the axially extended fingers spreadthe grip-tip portions 36 to receive a lead. Upon releasing the manuallyoperable press mechanism 2'1, the spring member 26 axially moves thelead chamber 25 and thereby the axially extended fingers 35 in an inwarddirection relative to the pencil tip The cam portions 3'! cooperativelyengage the pencil tip cam portion I9 to radially contract or draw thegrip-tip portibns 36 together for gripping the inserted lead underpressure.

I have also provided the lead chamber 25 with an internal thread portion38 to threadably receive a lead propelling screw 49. I have provided aspring engagement flange portion or member 39 externally of this leadchamber 25. In my drawings I illustrate the spring engagement flangeportion 39 as being constructed independently of the lead chamber 25 andmounted thereon by a press fit. This spring engagement flange portion ormember 39 has a spring engagement flange shoulder 4| against which oneend of the spring member 25 abuts. When my grip-tip mechanical pencil isassembled this spring engagement flange shoulder 4| faces the pencil tipA spring guide engagement portion 42 of the spring engagement flangeportion or member 39 extends axially along the lead chamber 25 from thespring engagement flange shoulder 4| and toward the pencil tip When thespring member 26 abuts the spring engagement flange shoulder 4| thisspring guide engagement portion 42 is disposed within the spring member26.

A guide member 45 illustrated in Figure 10 has a spring engagementflange 45 on one end thereof. A guide portion 41 of this guide member 45extends from this spring engagement flange 46 for insertion in thespring member 26. When my grip-tip mechanical pencil is assembled thespring engagement flange 46 abuts against the shoulder |8 of the penciltip II, which is disposed internally of the pencil tip end M of thepencil barrel Ill. One end of the spring member 26 abuts against thisspring engagement flange 46. The guide portion 41 extends toward thespring guide engagement portion 42 of the spring engagement flangeportion 39. The lead chamber 25 slidable extends axially through thisguide member 45. The spring member 26, abutting the lower springengagement flange 46 of the guide member 45 and the spring engagementflange shoulder 4| of the upper spring engagement flange portion 39urges the spring engagement flange portion 38 away from the guide member45. This urging by the spring member 26 to separate these parts urges ormoves the lead chamber 25 in the inward direction relative to the penciltip H to move the axially extending fingers 35 inwardly to radiallycontract the griptip portions 33 for gripping a lead inserted in thelead chamber. The manually operable press mechanism 2! can move the leadchamber in the outward direction until the spring guide engagementportion 42 on the lead chamber 25 abuts the guide portion 41 of theguide member 45. This abutting of the spring guide engagement portion 42against the guide portion 41 of portion 43.

.5 the guide member '45 limits outward movement; of the axially extendedfingers 35 to a predetermined distance.

The manually operable press mechanism 21 which extends out of the eraserend [3 of the pencil barrel l has a lead feeding screw sleeve 50 whichextends over the lead propelling screw 49.. The lead propelling screw 49has a flat end The lead feeding screw sleeve 59 has a non-cylindricalinternal surface formed by a fluted portion 58 to cooperate with theflat end portion 43 to turn the lead propelling screw 49 when the leadfeeding screw sleeve 50 is turned. A washer 49, illustrated in Figures 1and 11, separates the lead feeding screw sleeve 50 from the springengagement .fiange portion 39 which is carried by the lead chamber 25.This -washer 49 eliminates the friction between the end of the leadfeeding screw sleeve 50 and the :lead chamber to retard turning of thelead chamber 25 when the lead feeding screw sleeve 51! is rotated orturned. I have provided the lead feeding screw sleeve 59 with a supportflange 52 which may be fastened to the lead feeding screw sleeve by apress fit. A stop edge flange 53 extends about this support flange 52.This stop edge flange 53 has an outside diameter substantially equal to,but less than the inside diameter of the pencil barrel.

A locking sleeve is inserted in the eraser end l3 of the pencil barrell0 and has a roughened portion 56 to .lockingly engage the internalsurface of the eraser end I3 of the pencil barrel Hi. This lockingsleeve 55 loosely fits over the support flange 52 and is adapted to abutthe stop edge flange 53.

The urging of spring member 26 urges the lead chamber 25 and thereby thelead feeding screw sleeve 50 toward the eraser end 13 of the pencilbarrel I0. This urging by the spring member 25 1 is limited by theabutting of the stop edge flange 53 and the adjoining end of the lockingsleeve 55. I have also provided the locking sleeve 55 with an end flange5-! to engage the end of the pencil barrel at the eraser end 13 thereofto make a neat appearing finished product.

Disposed about the lead feeding screw sleeve 50 and within the lockingsleeve 55 isan eraser support press member 69. This eraser support pressmember has a fluted end portion 6! which frictionally engages the leadfeeding screw sleeve 5n for turning the lead feeding screw sleeve 5!].Th s eraser support press member extends axially outwardly from theeraser end is of the pencil barrel l9 and supports the eraser 2B in theend thereof. This eraser support press member 69 provides storage spacefor extra leads of different diameters. The eraser 28 is removable toprovide access to this storage s ace. The fluted end portion 51 abutsthe support flange 52 and frictionally engages the fluted portion 58 onthe lead feeding screw sleeve 5!] to move the lead feeding screw sleeve.The lead chamber 25 is moved axially outwardly of the encil tip I i whenthe eraser support press member 60 is pressed inwardly of the eraser end13 of the pencil barrel Ill. The eraser cap 29 enc oses the erasersupport press member 69 and extends over the eraser end l3 of the pencilbarrel Ill to neatly complete my grip-tip mechanical pencil.

My new and useful grip-tip mechanical pencil is easy to operate and willtightly grip leads of different diameters under pressure. To insert alead into the grip-tip mechanical pencil the operator simply holds thepencil barrel I 0 and 6 axially presses on the eraser cap 29. Thispressing on the eraser cap 29 causes the manually operable pressmechanism 21, including the eraser support press member 69, to extendthe axially extended fingers 35 outwardly of the pencil tip H. At thistime the spring member 26 is compressed and the spring guide engagementportion 42 abuts-the guideportion 41 of the guide member -45. Theseguide portions and engagement portions cooperate to limit the axialmovement of the axially extended fingers 35 out of the pencil tip H to apredetermined distance. The resiliency of the lead chamber 25 andaxially extended fingers 35 causes the grip-tip portions 35 to expandradially for receiving a pencil lead.

Upon releasing pressure against the eraser cap as relative to the pencilbarrel 1!) the spring member 26 urges the manually operable pressmechanism 2.? toward the eraser end l3 of the pencil barrel. The springmember 25 presses against the spring engagement flange portion 39 on thelead chamber 25 to axially move the lead :ehainber in an inwarddirection to draw the axially extended fingers 35 into the pencil tip H.The :cam portions 3 cooperatively engage the pencil tip cam bearingportion 19 upon movement of the axially extended fingers 35 in theinward direction to radially contract the grip-tip portion 36. Theinserted pencil lead is gripped under pressure by the grip-tip portions36. The urging of the spring member '26, operating in conjunction withthe cooperation of the cam portion hi on the axially extended fingersand the pencil tip camzportion I 9, regulates the pressure exerted bythe grip-tip portions 36 on the inserted pencil lead.

-When the pencil lead has worn down, the user of the pencil may turn theeraser cap 29 relative to the pencil barrel to axially propel a newportion of the lead to writing position. Turning the eraser cap 29relative to the pencil barrel causes the eraser support press member itto turn the lead feeding screw sleeve 5c. The lead propelling screw 40is turned by the lead feeding screw sleeve 50 and relative to the leadchamber .25 to axially propel the inserted lead from the chamber 25 andthrough the grip tip portions 35 of the "axially extended fingers 35.

Leads of the ordinary thin. lead variety or the thick lead variety incommon use may be inserted and used in my new grip-tip mechanicalpencil. In my description and claims I speak or" using any one of many.leads of numerous diameters in my grip-tip mechanical pencil. When aperson wants to use a fine lead in the grip-tip mechanical pencil, hemay. If the person wants to use a heavy lead in my grip-tip mechanicalpencil he may take the fine lead out and insert the heavy lead. In mydrawings 1 have illustrated a fine lead inserted in my grip-tipmechanical pencil in Figure .1 and a heavy lead inserted in my grip-tipmechanical pencil in Figure 2.

Although I have described my invention in its preferred form with acertain de ree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of exampleand that numerous changes in the details of construction and thecombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mechanical pencil adapted to receive any one of many leads ofnumerous diameters,

lengths and shapes said mechanical pencil having a pencil barrel andhaving a pencil tip fastened to the pencil barrel, the provision of, alead chamber of resilient material having axially extended fingersextending outwardly beyond said pencil tip and terminating in grip-tipportions, said axially extended fingers of resilient material beingnormally divergent and tending to radially spread the grip-tip portionsfor receiving any one of said many leads of numerous diameters, lengthsand shapes said axially extended fingers having cam portions disposedexternally of said pencil tip and arranged to cooperate with the saidpencil tip upon axial movement of the axially extended fingers in aninward direction into the pencil tip for radially contracting thegriptip portions, a spring engaging flange member fastened to said leadchamber and extending thereabout, a guide member abuttin the inner endof the pencil tip and disposed about said lead chamber, said memberseach having surface portions facing each other, spring means betweensaid surface portions, said spring means within said pencil barrelurging said lead chamber and said axially extended fingers in saidinward direction to radially contract the grip-tip portions for grippingthe inserted lead under pressure, a lead propelling screw threaded intosaid lead chamber for axially propelling a lead from said lead chamberand between said axially extended fingers, and manually operable pressmeans frictionally engaging the lead propelling screw to thread the samethrough the lead chamber and also abuttable against said springengagement flange member to axially move the lead chamber against theurging of the spring means to axially move the extended fingers in anoutward direction to permit the grip tip portions to radially spread.

2. In a mechanical pencil adapted to receive any one of many leads ofnumerous diameters, lengths and shapes said mechanical pencil having apencil barrel and having a pencil tip fastened to said pencil barrel,the provision of, a lead chamber of resilient material having axiallyextended fingers extending outwardly beyond said pencil tip andterminating in grip-tip portions, said axially extended fingers ofresilient material being normally divergent and tending to radiallyspread the grip-tip portions for receiving any one of the many leads ofnumerous diameters, lengths and shapes said axially extended fingershaving cam portions disposed externally of said pencil tip and arrangedto cooperate with said pencil tip for radially drawing the grip-tipportions together upon axial movement of the axially extended fingers inan inward direction into the pencil tip, a spring engaging flange memberfastened to said lead chamber and extending thereabout, a guide memberabutting the inner end of the pencil tip and disposed about said leadchamber, said members each having surface portions facing each other,and spring means between said surface portions, said spring means withinsaid pencil barrel urging said lead chamber and said axially extendedfingers in said inward direction to radially contract the grip-tipportions for gripping the inserted lead under pressure, and manuallyoperable press means associated with said lead chamber and extendingoutwardly from said pencil barrel for axially moving said lead chamberagainst the urging of the spring means to move the axially extendedfingers in an outward direction beyond said pencil tip a predetermineddistance thereby permitting grip-tip portions to radially spread, one ofsaid members having a guide portion to abut the other of said membersfor limiting movement of the axially extended fingers in the outwarddirection to a predetermined distance.

3. In a mechanical pencil adapted to receive any one of many leads ofnumerous diameters, the provision of a pencil barrel having a pencil tipon one end thereof, a lead chamber providing resilient lead-grippingfingers extending outwardly beyond the pencil tip, said lead-grippingfingers being'normally divergent and tending to radially spreadthemselves, said lead-gripping fingers having cam portions disposedexternally of the pencil tip and engageable therewith, said lead chamberhaving flange means extending thereabout and disposed within said pencilbarrel, said pencil tip having guide means with an opening thereinthrough which the lead chamber extends, spring means abutting the flangemeans and the guide means and urging the flange means away from theguide means to urge the cam portions of the lead-gripping fingers inengagement with the pencil tip to radially contract the lead-grippingfingers, a lead propelling screw threaded into said lead chamber andthreadable coaxially therethrough to propel a lead outwardly from saidlead chamber and between said leadgripping fingers, and manuallyoperable means frictionally engaging the lead propelling screw to threadthe same through the lead chamber REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 215,521 Hoffman May 20, 18791,445,856 Sonneborn Feb. 20, 1923 2,106,389

Blake Jan. 25, 1938

